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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasite / Gasterophilus (Diptera, Gasterophilidae) infestation of equi...
Parasite (Paris, France)2016; 23; 36; doi: 10.1051/parasite/2016036

Gasterophilus (Diptera, Gasterophilidae) infestation of equids in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, China.

Abstract: We investigated infections with Gasterophilus spp. in three equids within the Kalamaili Nature Reserve (northern China). We conducted necropsies on 6 Przewalski's horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) and 6 Mongolian wild asses (Equus hemionus) and administered ivermectin to 10 overwintering domestic horses to expel parasites during winter periods. All 22 equids studied (100%) were infested with Gasterophilus spp. and a total of 17,225 larvae were collected. These included six species: G. haemorrhoidalis, G. inermis, G. intestinalis, G. nasalis, G. nigricornis, and G. pecorum. The mean intensity of Gasterophilus spp. larvae was 1904 in Przewalski's horses, 780 in Mongolian wild asses, and 113 in domestic horses. Gasterophilus pecorum was the most abundant species in all three equids. Przewalski's horses, a reintroduced species, had a significantly higher intensity of Gasterophilus spp. than the Mongolian wild ass, indicating greater susceptibility to parasites in its ancestral home. Nous avons étudié les infections de spp. chez trois équidés dans la réserve naturelle de Kalamaili (Chine du Nord). Nous avons effectué des autopsies sur 6 chevaux de Przewalski () et 6 ânes sauvages de Mongolie () et administré de l’ivermectine à 10 chevaux domestiques hivernants pour expulser leurs parasites pendant les périodes d’hiver. Tous les 22 équidés étudiés (100 %) étaient infestés par spp. et un total de 17,225 larves ont été recueillies. Elles comprenaient six espèces : , , , , et . L’intensité moyenne des larves de spp. était 1904 chez les chevaux de Przewalski, 780 chez les ânes sauvages de Mongolie et 113 chez les chevaux domestiques. était l’espèce la plus abondante chez les trois équidés. Les chevaux de Przewalski, une espèce réintroduite, avait une intensité significativement plus élevée de spp. que les ânes sauvages de Mongolie, ce qui indique une plus grande sensibilité aux parasites dans leur aire ancestrale.
© H. Huang et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2016.
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Publication Date: 2016-09-05 PubMed ID: 27593434PubMed Central: PMC5018932DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2016036Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research illustrates the investigation of Gasterophilus infestations in three equine species in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, China. It underscores a 100% infestation rate and also reports a significant difference in the infestation intensity among different species, with the reintroduced Przewalski’s horses showing a higher intensity of infection.

Study Methodology and Species Analysed

  • Scientists conducted an elaborate investigation into the infestation of Gasterophilus spp. in three equid species: Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii), Mongolian wild asses (Equus hemionus), and overwintering domestic horses within the Kalamaili Nature Reserve in northern China.
  • In total, the study included 22 equids: 6 Przewalski’s horses, 6 Mongolian wild asses, and 10 domestic horses.
  • The researchers used necropsies (autopsies on animals) to study the horses and asses, and the domestic horses received ivermectin treatment to expel parasites during winter periods.

Results of the Investigation

  • All 22 equids (100%) were found to be infested with Gasterophilus spp., indicating a high prevalence of Gasterophilus infestation in this region.
  • The scientists collected a total of 17,225 larvae from the infested equids. The collected larvae belonged to six different species: G. haemorrhoidalis, G. inermis, G. intestinalis, G. nasalis, G. nigricornis, and G. pecorum.

Intensity of Infestation

  • The study reports differences in infestation intensity among the three equids. The mean intensity was highest in Przewalski’s horses (1904 larvae per horse), followed by Mongolian wild asses (780 larvae per ass), and least in domestic horses (113 larvae per horse). This shows that Przewalski’s horses were more susceptible to Gasterophilus infestation.
  • Gasterophilus pecorum was found to be the most abundant species in all three equids, suggesting it as the most prevalent species in this geography.

Implications of the Study

  • The higher intensity of Gasterophilus spp. in Przewalski’s horses, a species reintroduced to the wild, suggests that these horses could be more vulnerable to parasites in their ancestral habitats. This finding raises the need for more systematic parasite management methods for reintroduced species.

Cite This Article

APA
Huang H, Zhang B, Chu H, Zhang D, Li K. (2016). Gasterophilus (Diptera, Gasterophilidae) infestation of equids in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, China. Parasite, 23, 36. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2016036

Publication

Parasite (Paris, France)
ISSN: 1776-1042
NlmUniqueID: 9437094
Country: France
Language: English
Volume: 23
Pages: 36
PII: 36

Researcher Affiliations

Huang, Heqing
  • Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
Zhang, Boru
  • Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
Chu, Hongjun
  • Wildlife Conservation Office of Altay Prefecture, Altay 836599 Xinjiang, PR China.
Zhang, Dong
  • Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
Li, Kai
  • Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparasitic Agents / administration & dosage
  • China / epidemiology
  • Diptera / drug effects
  • Diptera / growth & development
  • Ectoparasitic Infestations / epidemiology
  • Ectoparasitic Infestations / parasitology
  • Ectoparasitic Infestations / veterinary
  • Equidae / parasitology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Ivermectin / administration & dosage
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Prevalence

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Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
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